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Since I first wrote this article, I have spent the last year or so, until recently, converting my VHS movies (home and purchased) to DVD format so I could watch them with my DVD player. After wasting a lot of time, I've found the best of three methods, at least if you have a dozen or more VHS tapes to convert.

Originally I wrote that I had bet some would suggest using a computer to capture the output from a VHS player and burning DVDs using it. This is an expensive solution - you need a "video capture card" to be able to get input from your VHS player, and software to do things like create menus, etc. I wasted so much time and money I can't believe I kept at it so long. And a single side of a DVD is 4.3MB in size, so while you can store the copy on your computer as a backup, say on an external drive, unless you also plan on watch them on your computer, or using it instead of a DVD player, it's not really worth the bother.

I also tried directly copying from a VHS player to a DVD recorder, which I borrowed, and that was better, but I could not make backup copies of commercial VHS tapes protected by Macrovision. Note: as long as you keep your VHS copy, you can legal make a DVD backup. This was faster, and it made some simple menus that let you create "chapters" or put multiple clips on a single DVD.

But in the end, instead of buying a DVD recorder I just bought one of many VHS/DVD player combinations that record both formats. Three are many good ones on the market, they've dropped in price, and while I won't recommend a particular brand but instead suggest you research reviews online at places like Amazon.com and Epinions.com, the price is well worth the time you'll save. The one I bought also allows me to create a nice opening menu with a background taken from the video, and set up chapters which also have small video clips just like a regular DVD movie you might buy or rent. The DVDs I've made with this unit have menus and are as easy to use as commercial ones.

There used to be some concern about whether or not to choose DVD-R or DVD+R format, and the same for the read/write/erasable ones (DVD-RW/DVD+RW) but unless you have a very old DVD player, most players made in the last 5-6 years will play all formats. Only if you have an older DVD player should you make sure it plays recordable DVDs and if so, which format.

I should mention that you can also use a working VHS player with "composite output", which is what is standard on all DVD players, and a DVD recorder or writer. You'll recognize it as the three "RCA" plugs: yellow for video, and a white/red pair for left/right audio output. Hook this up to your TV, since you'll want to watch what you're recording, and you'll have to start/stop both the VHS player and DVD recorder manually. The reason I didn't bother with this is because the VHS/DVD player/recorder combo unit cost the same price as just a DVD recorder, not to mention being able to start the recording and come back later to use the features to create menus before "finalizing the DVD" make it a no-brainer.

I just wish I could get back all the time and money I spent on getting a video capture card, software, and a special playback card with remote control for my PC. The combo VHS/DVD setup is so easy to use, I just put in a tape and later in the day, or when I get home from work, I quickly create some menus and chapters, finalize the DVD, make two copies if it's something I don't want to risk losing, and put them into DVD wallets. Nothing could be easier. Cheers, Wink

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